How to Convince Your Husband to do Family Portraits {Central Ohio Family Photographer}
Does your husband whine when you mention family portraits? Here are 5 ways to get your husband onboard…without the bribes.
I mean I totally get where your husband is coming from. It isn’t fun for anyone to sit up tall, look straight at the camera, in clothes someone else picked out, and smile while holding a squirming toddler. If they’ve never had photos done by a lifestyle photographer their only experience with photos may have been posed (and let’s just say humiliating) portraits at the mall. Or possibly wedding photos that felt forced. Plus this could mean they don’t have many family photos they treasure. So they’re thinking why should I go through so much trouble for something that doesn’t bring me any joy? .
TIP ONE
Assure him that a lifestyle family photo session is very different photography experience than he’s had before.
The session is more about playing and having fun with your family. Go an extra step more and include an activity your husband loves to do with your kids into the session. This is an easy thing to incorporate in lifestyle photography. Let him know that you have found a photographer that is SUPER relaxed and easy-going (hi ) who doesn’t do the traditional staged or forced photos and who is going to make the whole experience one that is as fun and enjoyable as possible!
If you have a newborn, it will be more about you cuddling and loving on your baby. If you’ve got young kids, it will be about playing with them, throwing them up in the air, tickling them and having fun together. It will be about whatever makes your family UNIQUE.
TIP TWO
Choose a day you have NOTHING else going on.
If you are rushing home from a soccer game to get everyone quickly fed and changed the session will be starting off on a bad foot before it’s already began. Plus rushing around and arguing is what your husband and kids will begin to associate with photo sessions.
Instead make the photo session the main event of the day and give yourself LOTS of time to get ready and get to your session location.
TIP THREE
Make a family date out of the photo session!
I always suggest to my clients to make the session part of a family date together. It changes the overall feeling of a photo session to one of a chore to get over with to one that’s something to look forward to and let loose with your family. To fully enjoy each other unplugged. Plan to go out to dinner or ice cream together after the session. Removing any expectations from the experience except to enjoy your family will not only render beautiful images but this day will be FOREVER cherished. You will look back on the photos and relive the happy time you had together. Once your husband experiences a photo session like this he will be the one to suggest your next family session!
TIP FOUR
Planning ahead is a HUGE factor so he doesn’t dread photo sessions.
When you are prepared, your clothes are laid out, you have extra time to shower, and you are NOT rushing, it starts the session out on the right foot.
I cannot stress this one enough. Husbands hate the chaos of getting ready almost as much as the photo session.
Planning includes:
-Have everyone try on the outfits the week before the session. You don’t want to be rushing to get your daughter’s dress on to find out it’s too small and has a stain on it.
-Work out the times you need to be ready.
-Save directions to the location in your directions app and check how long the trip is
-Prepare snacks and water for the road.
-Leave with plenty of time to get to your destination.
-change up the nap schedule so the kids are waking up fresh from a nap when it’s time to get ready.
TIP FIVE
Let him know that this basically gets him off the hook for any gift shopping for the foreseeable future!!
Let’s not forget that family photos are the gift that keeps on giving – you can turn your photos into gifts for all of the special people in your life for the next year.
Photobooks / framed prints / wall art / calendars… So many gift possibilities and then you have all of your birthdays, mothers days, fathers days, Christmases SORTED for at LEAST 12 months.
I’ve had countless husbands express to me after their session “That was so fun!”. My favorite comment is “That’s it, we’re done?”. When you work with me I can assure you that your first session will be the last time your husband whines about getting photos done. He’ll see how fun it is and the value the photos bring to his life.
